# generalist

/ˈdʒɛnɝəɫɪst/ (US) · /dʒˈɛnəɹəlˌɪst/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/generalist
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a person who knows about many different subjects or can do many different jobs, instead of focusing on one special area.

For teachers: a person with broad knowledge or skills across several fields, contrasted with a specialist focused on one area.

## Examples

- Our team needs a generalist who can handle different tasks.
- The clinic hired a generalist to treat common illnesses and refer complex cases to specialists.
- While specialists drive deep innovation in narrow fields, generalists often connect ideas across disciplines to solve complex problems.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.